Medication & Treatment – Hello Doctor

What you need to know about sleeping tablets

November 24th, 2019 by Content Editor

If you struggle to peacefully drift off to la-la land, it means your sleep-wake cycle may be out of whack. Possible reasons for this include having too much caffeine before bed, watching TV, working on your laptop, or being on your phone late at night.

When sleep just won’t come, it’s tempting to turn to a sleeping pill for relief. But before you do, make sure you understand how they work.

Sleeping pills 101

Sleeping pills act as a temporary band aid to sleep problems. There’s a wide range of sleeping pills that vary from supplements, to over-the-counter (OTC) medication and prescription drugs.
Some of these medications can be addictive and can worsen insomnia in the long run. If you have ongoing insomnia, it’s important to see a doctor who will advise you on the best approach for treatment.

Here are common effective sleeping pills. Speak to your doctor before you start taking any medication.

Melatonin

Many sleeping pills contain melatonin. They’re commonly prescribed for circadian rhythm sleep disorders, which are problems with your internal sleep-wake cycle.

The brain produces a hormone called melatonin which regulates the sleep-wake cycle by telling the body that it’s almost time for bed when it’s dark.

Melatonin can help with:

Jet lag
Trouble falling asleep at night
Coping with shift work

Melatonin supplements are available without a prescription from your local pharmacy.

Benzodiazepines

This medication is most commonly used as a tranquiliser for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. They can also be used to treat severe muscle spasms, tremors, acute seizures, and alcohol and drug withdrawal symptoms.

However, these drugs are likely to cause daytime drowsiness and can cause drug dependence, meaning you may always need them to be help you sleep.

Benzodiazepines can help with:

Sleepwalking
Night terrors

Hypnotics

These are a group of sleeping medications only available by prescription.

You doctor is only likely to prescribe the drugs for insomnia that’s long-lasting and bothersome as they can have several negative side effects. The drugs can also treat movement disorders that interrupt sleep.

Hypnotics can help with:

Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
Periodic limb movement disorder.

Doxepin

Doxepin is used to treat insomnia in people who have trouble staying asleep. Doxepin is in a class of medications called tricyclic antidepressants. They work by slowing activity in the brain to allow sleep.

Doxepin is also available as a capsule and liquid to treat depression and anxiety.

Risks and side effects

All prescription sleeping pills have side effects. These will vary depending on the specific drug, dosage and how long the drug lasts in your system.

Common side effects include:

Prolonged drowsiness the next day
Headache
Muscle aches
Constipation
Dry mouth
Trouble concentrating
Dizziness
Unsteadiness and rebound insomnia

Other risks include:

Drug tolerance
Drug dependence
Withdrawal symptoms
Drug interactions
Rebound insomnia.
Masking an underlying problem

Use sleeping pills safely

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises the following:

Never take a pill without a doctor’s approval.
Don’t drink alcohol before using the medication.
Take the first dose when you have planned no activities for the next morning.
Don’t drive or operate heavy machinery after taking a sleeping pill.
Call your doctor right away if you experience any complications.

Sleep is an important part of your overall well-being, and without enough of it, your health can suffer. It’s important to recognise and identify lifestyle habits that could be interfering with your sleep. Often, small changes to how you spend your day and improve how you spend your night!

References:

How do I know if I can stop my medication?

November 20th, 2019 by Content Editor

When you’re prescribed medication, it’s important for your long-term health to follow your doctor’s instructions and to take them properly.

Unfortunately, some of us may stop taking our medication for various reasons. This may include:

Not believing the treatment is going to improve your health.
Having had a bad experience with a certain medication in the past (e.g. side-effects like nausea or cramps).
Being in denial about your condition, therefore believing you don’t need to take your medication.
Believing you “feel better”.

However, stopping your medication as you please or not taking your medication as prescribed can cause serious problems. Here are a few things you should know before you stop taking your medication.

Be prepared

Prevention is better than cure, so once you’re prescribed a new medication, understand your treatment properly. Ask your doctor:

Your dose and schedule
The expected outcome
Common side effects
How long you’ll have to take it
What will happen if you stop taking it

Talk to your doctor first

Whatever your reason for wanting to stop your medication is, discuss it with your doctor. Stopping your medication abruptly may worsen your symptoms or cause unpleasant side effects. Explain exactly why you’re thinking of not taking your medication anymore. For example, if your health seems to have improved drastically or you’ve been experiencing unpleasant reactions to your medicine, explain this clearly.

Know the side effects

When you’re prescribed any new medication, ask your doctor about the possible side effects. With some conditions like high blood pressure, stopping your medication can be dangerous. Because there are no obvious symptoms, you won’t know how your body is reacting.

Stop your medication safely

If your doctor gives you the go-ahead to stop taking medication, you can’t always just go cold turkey!. For example, with some medications, you’ll need to start taking smaller doses until your body is weaned off. This helps your body avoid unpleasant side effects that come with stopping medication too quickly.

Remember:

Always take your medication as prescribed.
Ask your doctor about anything you’re unsure about.
Always tell your doctor about other medication as some medications can react badly to each other.
Use your phones’ calendar to stay on top of your medication schedule.

References:

10 ways to use coconut oil this summer

November 20th, 2019 by Content Editor

Did you know there’s an-all-purpose oil that’s beneficial for your health? Believe it or not, the fleshy meat of a coconut is good for your health, both inside and out!

Coconut oil is extracted from the edible meat, the “kernel”, of the coconut. It’s extracted through various methods, which is why you’ll find different types of coconut oil like refined, unrefined or virgin.

You can use coconut oil in cooking, baking, and even as part of your beauty routine.

Let’s further explore the wide ranges of its uses:

1. Sautéing and frying

Coconut oil is great for cooking at a high heat because of its high smoke point. Oils like olive oil can oxidise when heated, but because coconut oil is made up of healthy saturated fats, it’s stable under high temperatures. It’s also great for non-stick cooking.

2. A natural moisturiser

At room temperature, it’s solid, but quickly melts when in contact with warm hands. Don’t rely on this natural oil to keep you protected from cancer-causing UV radiation though; you’d still need to apply sunscreen every day.

3. Improve your dental health

The natural oil can be a powerful weapon against the bacteria in your mouth that causes dental plaque, tooth decay and gum disease. Swishing coconut oil around in your mouth for 10 minutes, also known as oil pulling, has been found to be as effective as rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash in reducing bacteria.

4. Remove Makeup

Tired of battling with scrubbing mascara off? Worry no more! Apply a little oil on a cotton pad and wipe gently until all traces of makeup are gone. Coconut oil is also effective at removing colour fast and long lasting lipsticks.

5. Relieve eczema itch and loosen psoriasis scales

If you suffer from eczema and psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that causes skin cells to build up, coconut oil is a safe natural remedy to try. It can help soothe the rough, red and scaly patches. Enjoy a hot bath by adding a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil to the tub to relieve itchy and scaly skin.

6. Treat your feet

Sweaty feet can result in athlete’s foot, a common fungal infection. Coconut oil may help soothe the infection and flaking skin. Apply an anti-fungal cream to treat the athlete’s foot and top it with a layer of organic coconut oil. This is an excellent fix for cracked heels too.

7. Ingrown hair treatment and preventer

Rubbing a little oil on the areas where you regularly shave or are prone to bumps and infection can help relieve symptoms of ingrown hairs. The oil helps soften the skin, so hair can easily grow properly through the follicle without becoming ingrown. Oil also helps to get rid of any infection causing bacteria.

8. Improve wound healing

Coconut oil contains a fatty acid called monolaurin, which is renowned for its antimicrobial effects. Using high-quality coconut oil may help reduce the risk of infection in healing wounds.

9. Anti-fungal cream

Because of its antibiotic capabilities, coconut oil can be used on the skin to assist in treating skin fungus.

10. Nail cuticle oil

To help reduce the risk of developing fungal infections, apply coconut oil to your finger beds. This will make it easy to push back cuticles which in turn promotes nail growth.

References:

Injections vs. pills

October 21st, 2019 by Content Editor

Whether you need an injection or tablet boils down to how quickly medication needs to get into your system, where it needs to be and how long it should stick around in your body.

When an injection is given

An injection is when a liquid drug is administered with a needle and syringe. The fluid flows into the bloodstream or body tissue and the drug is easily dispersed in the body.

In some cases, injections are given over tablets. For example, some drugs won’t be as effective in tablet form because they could be destroyed by the enzymes that digest food. In other instances, your doctor may need to achieve an effect immediately with medication.

For example, if you’re in a critical condition (e.g. bleeding), an injection will allow medication to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream and treat you faster, or if you’re vomiting or unconscious, oral medication would be very difficult and an injection would be more effective.

When tablets are given

Tablets are the most common form of medication. This is because they’re easy to manufacture, easy to use and easy to transport. Certain drugs need to be given in tablet or capsule form as they may become ineffective when given as an injection. This happens as certain medications break down too easily once they are in liquid form.

Tablets are also easier to take as injections are often given by your doctor. Due to this, oral medication is preferred for chronic conditions.

So, are tablets or injections better?

It’s easy to think that injections work quicker and work faster because it goes straight into the bloodstream, but this is not so. Some tablets have higher doses than an injection to make up for the amount that can’t be absorbed by the stomach. This means that the amount of medication ends up being the same amount you would’ve received with an injection. Furthermore, drugs don’t necessarily work better just because it goes straight to your bloodstream.

Treatment also depends on the medical condition that’s being treated and the situation. If you’re curious why your doctor chose an injection or tablet to treat you, ask. It’s usually because he chose the best method to manage your condition.

References:

Don’t take these medications together!

October 21st, 2019 by Content Editor

If you’re taking two or more medications, say for example for heart disease, chances are the drugs may interact with each other, food or beverages and not perform as expected, or even worse, cause potentially dangerous side effects.

Antihistamines

Over-the-counter antihistamines temporarily relieve a runny nose or reduce sneezing, itching of the nose or throat, and itchy watery eyes. If you’re taking sedatives, tranquilisers or a prescription drug for high blood pressure or depression, check with a doctor or pharmacist before you start using antihistamines. Taking antihistamines along with blood pressure medication can cause your blood pressure to shoot up and increase your heart rate.

Bronchodilators

These temporarily relieve shortness of breath, tightness of chest and wheezing due to bronchial asthma. Check with your doctor whether it’s safe to use bronchodilators if you If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease or diabetes.

Nasal decongestants

Used to help relieve nasal congestion caused by a cold, hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies, nasal decongestants may cause adverse effects if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease or diabetes. Check with your doctor before using these.

Good to know

Give your doctor a complete list of all medications that you use or have used within the last few weeks. This should include over-the-counter medications, vitamins, food supplements and herbal remedies.

Tell your doctor about treatments and medications that are added or have been discontinued.
Inform him about your lifestyle changes like exercise, diet, alcohol intake.
Ask about the most serious or frequent drug interactions with the medications that you are taking.
Because drug interactions increase regularly with the number of medications, work with your doctor to remove unnecessary medications from your treatment plan.

Take medications safely

Always read drug labels carefully and learn about the warnings for all the medications you take.
Keep medications in their original containers so you can easily identify them.
Ask your doctor what you need to avoid when you are prescribed a new medication. Ask about food, beverages, dietary supplements and other drugs.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking an OTC drug if you are taking any prescription medications.
Use one pharmacy for all your mediation needs.
Keep all your health care professionals informed about everything that you take.
Keep a record of all prescription drugs, OTC drugs and dietary supplements (including herbs) that you take. Always keep this list with you, especially when going for any medical appointment.

References:

Which painkillers are best for an injury?

May 12th, 2019 by Content Editor

When you’ve been injured, it’s easy to pop a pill to ease the pain. Unfortunately, this could do more harm than good.

Anti-inflammatory medications are often used to treat muscle aches and pains. It’s important to know when and how to use anti-inflammatories and when to use alternative methods.

Pain caused by an injury to the soft tissues of the body like the muscles, tendons, and ligaments are typically classified as either acute or chronic injuries.

Most soft-tissue injuries are painful because of the swelling and inflammation that happens after an injury.

Anti-inflammatory drugs 

Although anti-inflammatory medication can help for a short while, long-term use of these medications is not recommended.

Also, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) aren’t recommended to be used before or during endurance sports. Studies have found that there’s a small amount of performance benefit of taking an ibuprofen painkiller and warn that it may mask pain, which can lead to increased risk of injury.
Other studies have warned against the use of NSAIDs during any running race longer than the traditional marathon (42km) as they have been associated with an increased risk of low blood sodium concentrations.

Acute injuries 

Acute pain is treated with the R.I.C.E. method of injury treatment (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). The treatment for acute sports injuries starts with applying ice. The use of heat may be helpful to ease muscle tension in chronic aches and pains.

Chronic injuries 

Chronic soft-tissue injuries often begin as a mild and nagging pain that never seems to go away. Chronic injuries are treated with rest, physical therapy, and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These can relieve your pain but won’t necessarily help you heal completely.

Which medication can you use?

Short acting painkillers give quick relief that lasts for a short time.

Long-acting painkillers (also called slow-release painkillers) are slower to control the pain but are effective for a longer time.

Your doctors will always prescribe the best painkillers to help control and ease pain.

Mild pain is often treated with non-opioid drugs, like paracetamol and anti-inflammatory drugs like Brufen and Nurofen.

Moderate to severe pain is usually treated with painkillers called opioids. These include medications like codeine phosphate, tramadol and morphine. Sometimes, opioids are used to treat mild pain.

Strong painkillers can cause side-effects in some people. Tell your doctor immediately.

References:

The dangers of medication

November 30th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Medication helps us feel better, right? If taken the right way, yes. After a consultation with your doctor, he may prescribe certain medications to help you recover. These are normally given with directions like how much to take and at what times.

Medication becomes dangerous when you leave the doctor’s room without being clear on how you should take it. This lack of knowledge could cause serious consequences.

According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), an estimated 20% of high school students admit to taking prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription.

Misusing medication can leave you with several negative effects.

Some medications can be addictive. In this case, you would need more of the drug and in higher doses to get the same effects. When you stop taking the drug, you have symptoms like nausea, shaking, sweating and nervousness.

Taking medication that your doctor didn’t prescribe or misusing your own medication is illegal. What’s more, the likelihood of committing a crime increases when you’re abusing drugs.

Remember also, that misusing medication can cause poor judgment, which can put you in dangerous situations. Most importantly, its ultimately your health that suffers when you abuse medication. Misusing medication can cause changes in your mood, decrease your mental function, interrupts your menstrual cycle, affects your fertility and could even interrupt breathing.

Good to know

After your consultation with your doctor, you need to ask why they’re prescribing you a certain type of medication to you, and whether it has any side-effects. This is your chance to ask as many questions as possible. If you’re not comfortable with taking that prescription, ask for an alternative.
Although many people can have the same condition, not everyone is treated the same way. A doctor prescribes medication according to your specific experience with a condition and according to how your body will react to it. If you take someone else’s medication, you may become sicker and your body will build up resistance. This means that your body will get used to certain medications and they will no longer work for you.
Store your medication in a safe place and at the right temperature. If you have children around, it’s best to keep meds as far out of their reach as possible. Some medications need to be stored at room temperature and others, like cough syrups, should be kept in the fridge. Read the instructions carefully and look out for the expiration dates on your medication. Over time, they can lose their strength.
Listen to your doctor. You consulted him because of his expertise in the first place. Overdosing is a real concern, so always check with your doctor about dosages.
Mistakes happen. You may leave the pharmacy with the wrong medication. Double-check your medication, dosage and instructions, ask the relevant questions one more time to be sure. It’s your responsibility.
Always check with your doctor before taking over-the-counter medication or even natural remedies. This will help prevent potential danger of mixing prescription with other forms of medication.

References:

What is cupping and how does it work?

June 18th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Can cups boost your health? They just may.

Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine, originally used in Egyptian and Chinese cultures for healing. The process involves therapy in which a practitioner places special cups on the skin to create a suction. The cups are usually made from glass, bamboo, earthenware or silicone.

How does it work?

According to Ayesha Abrahams, a cupping practitioner from Cape Town, there are two types of cupping; dry and wet cupping. During both the wet and dry cupping process, the cupping therapist places a flammable substance like alcohol, herbs or paper in a cup, then sets it on fire. He will then douse out the fire and as it goes out, the cup is placed upside down on the skin.

When the air inside the cup cools, it creates a vacuum, which causes your skin to rise and your blood vessels to expand. Each cup is generally left on for three minutes. According to the British Cupping Society, you will usually get between three and five cups during your first session.

Dry cupping uses a vacuum on different areas of the body to gather blood to specific areas.

A vacuum is also used during wet cupping, but after that, the cup is removed and the therapist makes tiny, light cuts on your skin. Next, a second cup is used to draw ‘harmful blood which lies just beneath the surface of the skin. This is usually very small quantities of blood.

Cupping may have a couple of health benefits, including:

According to the cupping therapist and the cupping society, the treatment can help with:

Improving blood flow in the arteries
Helping to purify the blood.
Helping to relieve pain anywhere in the body (if a cup is applied to the site of the pain).
Treating diseases of the uterus and menstrual problems.
Easing symptoms of arthritis and varicose veins.
Easing allergy symptoms.
Helping to control high blood pressure.

Although there is not enough research to back up all of these claims, the potential harm of the treatment is so low, that it could be well worth trying out.

Should you go for cupping therapy?

Cupping has many health benefits, says Abrahams, but it isn’t recommended for everyone. Elderly people, pregnant women, those with pacemakers, dehydrated people, chronic liver patients, anyone on blood thinning medications and those with blood disorders, should not go for cupping therapy.

Good to know

Before going for cupping therapy, ask your doctor if your health will benefit from it and about any possible side-effects.
The main side-effect that comes from cupping is bruising and mild discomfort, which only lasts up to 10 days.
Besides the bruising, after wet cupping, your skin may feel sensitive from the small cuts made to draw blood, but applying honey will help you heal faster.
If you aren’t healing, talk to your doctor about an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
Dry cupping has minimal side-effects and no long-term damage.

References

Commentary by Ayesha Abrahams, Cupping practitioner, Cape Town
https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/cupping-therapy#2
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320707.php
https://freedomchinesemedicine.com/oriental-therapies/cupping/

Need chronic painkillers? Try these natural alternatives

April 20th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

You massage your temples to try and ease the pain. This is your second headache of the day; time to pop another pill.

Painkillers have become household and handbag essentials over time. In the United States Opioids have even made headlines, as the drug-dependence epidemic surfaced. Strangely, many of us don’t know (or care) what we’re swallowing, as long as it gives us relief.

What you need to know

There are two main kinds of painkillers, anti-inflammatories and opioids. When you’re injured or hurt, special nerves send messages to your brain to communicate that you’re in pain. Painkilling drugs block or interfere with these messages, giving you relief. Not understanding the effects of any medication you’re taking could be dangerous, so let’s get clued up.

Anti-inflammatories

Anti-inflammatories are used to ease pain and reduce inflammation. They’re commonly used for conditions like joint pain, muscle and ligament pain (strains and sprains), period pain, headaches and migraines. Common over-the-counter anti-inflammatories are Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celebrex and Aspirin.

Opioids

Opioids are drugs that have morphine-like effects and are mainly used for pain relief. They activate opioid receptors and nerve cells in the brain, which helps with pain relief. Other uses include helping to ease coughing and diarrhoea. Examples of opioids are morphine, methadone and oxycodone.

Swallow with caution

When you feel pain, you want the quickest and most effective solution, so you turn to painkillers. The problem is, they can become addictive. Painkillers can be addictive over time because of their “quick fix” effect. If painkillers are taken for a long time, your body adapts to the effect and it won’t give you relief as easily. Over time, you’ll need to take a higher and higher dose to get the same effect, spiralling out into drug misuse.

Opioids are the most commonly abused prescription medications, which people often take just to feel good. According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, 75% of overdose-related deaths are from opioids abuse or misuse.

Ease the pain naturally

In some cases, like with chronic pain, anti-inflammatories and opioids are needed. Talk to your doctor before taking them, though. Alternatively, there are some natural ways to relieve pain.

Turmeric

This flavourful yellow powder gives curry its signature colour and flavour, and also has healing effects. It contains curcumin, an antioxidant that helps protect your body from free radicals. It helps relieve inflammation and pain and works well to soothe indigestion, muscle aches and ulcers. Make turmeric tea or flavour foods with it to reap the benefits. You can also take curcumin capsules if you don’t enjoy the taste of turmeric.

Cloves

There’s an active ingredient in cloves called eugenol; a natural pain reliever. It’s widely used in pain ointments and comes in the form of capsules, powder and oil (besides its natural form). Rubbing a small amount of clove oil on sore gums temporarily relieves toothache pain, but talk to a dentist before using it and don’t use it undiluted. Cloves may also help with symptoms of a cold, nausea, pain and inflammation.

Lavender and peppermint oil

Peppermint oil helps improve circulation and lavender oil relieves muscle tension, making a good solution for aches and pain. Use a few drops of these oils to massage away a headache. Rub gently on your forehead, temples and the back of your neck. If it’s too strong, blend with some essential oil like coconut oil, almond oil or grape seed oil.

Good to know

Deep breathing and meditation will help ease pain.
For chronic pain, keep track of your pain levels with a score out of 10. This will help your doctor choose your treatment.
Always talk to your doctor before taking painkillers and read labels for warnings, dosage instructions and side-effects.
Do gentle exercises like dancing, swimming and walking. Staying active boosts endorphins; the feel-good hormone.

References:

My phlegm is yellow – do I need antibiotics?

March 7th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Coughing and wheezing, sniffles and sneezing are all symptoms of a cold, flu or even a sinus infection. These symptoms may leave you feeling down and lousy. Over-the-counter medication may have not eased the symptoms. Is it time for antibiotics?

An antibiotic is not ‘stronger’ than other medication

Would you say that spoons are stronger than scissors? Of course not. We understand that scissors have a different function to spoons: the one is used for cutting, and the other is used for dishing up.

The same rule applies to antibiotics: it’s not stronger than other medication: it is different. It works well to kill bacteria, but it can actually cause harm if you take it for a viral infection. Just like you won’t use a scissor to eat soup, or a soup to cut hair, you shouldn’t use an antibiotic to treat anything except a properly diagnosed bacterial infection.

Taking an antibiotic, particularly for a cold, can be a problem. This is due to the common misconception that antibiotics can treat all types of infections. Two thirds of South Africans mistakenly think that antibiotics are effective for colds and flu. Don’t be one of them! Antibiotics are only active against bacteria. Colds and flu are caused by viruses against which antibiotics have no effect. The more antibiotics you use, the higher your chances of developing resistant bacteria.

Cold vs. flu

There’s a difference between a cold and flu. Yes, they’re both respiratory illnesses but are caused by different viruses.

Upper respiratory infections like colds and influenza are caused by a virus. Antibiotics only kill bacteria. With viruses, you generally need a vaccination to prevent them and antiviral medication to treat them. Your doctor can prescribe this for you and will help you figure out if it’s a viral or bacterial infection.

In essence, antibiotics will kill both good and bad bacteria and leave your body even more vulnerable to infections.

Phlegm 101

When you have a cold, you may produce yellow phlegm. This doesn’t need antibiotics.

Yellow phlegm: Your body is fighting off an infection or virus or you could be getting sick.
Green phlegm: Your immune system is fighting back the infection. If the colour persists for more than a week or you develop a fever, check with your doctor.

So, do you need an antibiotic?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotics can do more harm than good. Remember, taking antibiotics increases your risk of developing an antibiotic resistance infection later; which is a result of taking antibiotics for the wrong reasons and when they haven’t been prescribed to you. They also kill the healthy bacteria in the gut, allowing more harmful bacteria to grow in its place.

Trust your doctor to prescribe antibiotics when it’s necessary! Don’t try to convince them that you ‘really need it’.

Treat a bacterial infection right away

Act quickly. Begin treatment at the first sign of infection.
Change your diet. Eliminate sugar that could feed pathogenic bacteria.
Get two times as much good bacteria in your diet (probiotic foods). This will build up a healthy immune response.
Get enough rest to boost your immune system.
Drink plenty of fluids to help you replace those you’ve lost.

References:

When can you stop taking your medication?

January 5th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

You’ve been on antibiotics for a few days now to combat that infection, but you’re already feeling much better. Should you stop taking your meds?

Or maybe you are taking meds for your blood pressure, but you don’t feel sick anymore. Is it fine to stop taking them?

Absolutely not!

Your doctor prescribed your medication for a reason. If you don’t take your medication exactly as prescribed, you can have many complications, such as unnecessary hospitalisation, delayed recovery, increased healthcare costs and even death.

Why people stop too soon

Many people stop taking their medication when they feel better. Once they stop, their symptoms just return – sometimes worse than before. People with mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, are known for stopping medication once the symptoms of their condition improve. Unfortunately, this can have a negative effect on your social, emotional and physical wellbeing.

In fact, you’re just setting yourself up for getting sicker more often. The World Health Organization (WHO) says, “Always complete your full prescription of antibiotics, even if you feel better, because stopping treatment early promotes the growth of drug-resistant bacteria.”

Chronic (long-term conditions) and meds

A chronic condition is a lifelong condition. This means that if you have a chronic condition like diabetes or hypertension, you can’t ever “stop” taking your medication – even if you think you feel better.

Tips to make the most of your treatment:

Don’t end up a casualty of not taking your medication! The South African Depression and Anxiety Group estimate that patients’ refusal to take their medication causes up to two million emergencies each year.
Take your medication exactly as your doctor prescribed. This means at the right time and for the period of time he’s instructed. If you’re using over-the-counter medication, read and follow the leaflet instructions carefully.
Don’t stop taking the medication if you feel it’s not helping. Speak to your doctor first.
Keep all your medications in their original containers.
To avoid mistakes, don’t take medicine in the dark.
Make sure you get your prescriptions refilled well in advance – before you run out.
When you’re travelling, pack your medicine in your carry-on bag so it never gets lost.
Take a large enough supply to last during your visit. It’s also a good idea to take a copy of your written prescription with you.
Make your medication-taking a routine, at the same time each day.
Keep notes of any side-effects and discuss with your doctor.
Stick to your follow-up appointments. Ask your doctor to send you an SMS reminder a day or two in advance.
Store your medication in a cool, dry place, or as directed. The bathroom or kitchen isn’t ideal.
Don’t share your chronic medication with others.
Remember that your doctor’s instructions regarding lifestyle changes are as important as taking your chronic medication.

References:

The new face of hormone therapy

May 7th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Bio-identical hormones are products that contain hormones which are identical in their molecular structure to those made naturally in the human body. Think of these substances as a more natural approach to traditional hormone therapy. Bio-identical hormones are created from plant chemicals, derived from plants such as yams and soy. Like hormone therapy, bio-identical hormones help alleviate symptoms related to hormonal imbalance or decline.

Why take hormones?
As you age, crucial hormones in your body take a dive. These include oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. When a woman stops having periods (menopause), these hormones decline dramatically. This can lead to:

Hot flushes
Night sweats
Trouble sleeping
Vaginal dryness
Low
Pain during sex
Weight gain
Memory loss
Mood swings

Bio-identical hormones are intended to increase these essential hormones, and improve symptoms. They are available in different dosages, and can be taken as pills, patches, creams, gels, and sprays.

Are they safe for use?
Some bio-identical hormones are made by drug companies and sold in standard doses. These forms have been tested for safety and purity, and are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Other bio-identical hormones are made at compounding pharmacies. These forms are customised to suit the hormonal needs of the patient. They aren’t standardised or tested, and may be inconsistent in purity and dose, so this is where you need to be wary. Even though these products are often advertised as being safer and more effective than regular hormone therapy, there’s very little scientific and medical evidence to support these claims.

Good to know
When the FDA approves a drug, the drug company must report on its side-effects. Compounding pharmacies don’t have to do this, which contributes to the myth that compounded hormones are safer. But all treatments have side-effects.

Bio-identical hormones can have similar side-effects to hormone therapy. These can include:

Weight gain
Bloating
Indigestion
Blurred vision
Acne
Breast tenderness
Increased facial hair

Side-effects can start from the first dose. The good news is that many of them get better as your body gets used to the new level of hormones. Bio-identical hormones can also increase your risk for blood clots, stroke, heart disease, gallbladder disease, and breast cancer.
When to see your doctor
If you have side-effects that you can’t manage or symptoms that won’t go away, call your doctor. Your hormone levels may be too high, and need to be adjusted.

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